Pros: Does your detail include cleaning the engine compartment?

[sudsmobile]

Whoops. Sorry. For pros only. If I was detailing for $ it would be a separate cost for sure. BTW you were completely in the right on the Toyota detail.

I'm not even sure if it's a question of right and wrong. It was just handled so poorly by them that it really left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Calendyr]

Nope, it's listed with the other a la carté svcs.

Now, I've heard that some production detailers who do contract work for dealers include the engine bay in the pkg. but that's the only time I've ever heard of it not being considered an additional service.
My question to rude lady or the owner would have been if they had ever had a vehicle detailed that included the engine bay and when they stated they had not, the next question would have obviously been why they expected you to include it.

Yes for dealerships, all cars must get engine details. But that is a completelly different market.

 

[Calendyr]

How could you not see a difference? Lol.

Because I was using my sarcastic eyes

 

[Calendyr]

I probably mention too often I fix cars for a living vs detailing them, but seems like a fitting time to mention it-

I hear you on the OCD and hating to see things dirty. It’s a daily struggle to not start spot cleaning in customers cars because they’re such a wreck (cleanliness wise) on the inside. But, it’s not what I’m getting paid for; plus so many customers honestly wouldn’t even notice/appreciate the fact I did.

What I have been doing though, is on any car where their bill is around $1k or greater, I wipe down all their underhood plastics with ONR at rinseless dilution. I’ve got a box of cut up bath towel pieces I use so I’m not sacrificing any decent towels. Towel gets too dirty? Toss it.

The ONR does a surprisingly nice job, and while not leaving the underhood looking “detailed”, it does look like it was cleaned with intention (which is all I’m going for). I also like that it’s not leaving anything heavy, so on the off chance someone did want to have their car detailed and underhood done, I haven’t left anything overly permanent/hard for someone else to remove.

Like you mention - it’s amazing what a difference a speed-wiping can make.

Any water based dressing is fine on the engine. What you don't want to use is solvent based products. They can damage the hoses and plastic parts over time. doing a quick cleaning can make a huge difference in the engine bay.

 

[Coach Steve]

Yes for dealerships, all cars must get engine details. But that is a completelly different market.

Which is exactly the point I was making and serves to further solidify the fact that it's not an included service at the consumer level by anyone.

 

[PurpleTowel]

It's additional for me, separate offering. I have had people come to me ONLY to do their engine compartment. I do, however, use it as a special for monthly offers every once in a while on Facebook—like, only for the month of August, purchase a Level 1 detail and get a free engine detail for mentioning this ad.

Takes me :45 to :60 to do it properly plus cleanup so it gets billed for 1 hour of my hourly rate.

 

[LSNAutoDetailingLSNAutoDetailing is verified member.]

We include engine and engine bay. But then again, our base package includes paint correction and *full interior (*as required). The only thing up from there are add-on's of various ceramic coatings. So if someone balks at the price, we start line-striking items out of the estimate/quote to get the price down. Engine/Engine bay is usually the first to get stricken from the quote. From a marketing perspective, I think when potential customers see what is getting removed in order to meet the price point, they tend to have me add it back in.

I typically do engines first thing, before we start on the wheels. Engine MUST be cool. We've always followed Nick's article and never had any issues:
How To: Detail Your Engine Like a Professional
Then dressing (or optional DLUX) the engine is done towards the end of the detail, along with tail tips, tires, etc. Which typically consists of a D114 wipe-down and application of dressings/QD's or if the customer up-options for DLUX. But typically those get applied at the end of the detail.

However we always state on our estimate/quote "we reserve the right to NOT clean the engine or engine bay." We explain this up front during the VIF process in the event I see old, dry, cracking, exposed wires, or other concerns.

Here are a few examples: Wouldn't you as a customer love to pickup your car that you just paid someone else to detail, pop the hood and see this? And don't forget the engine cowl, wiper-arms, and inside the gas lid area!

Goodness is in the details!

 

[PurpleTowel]

Time is money.

The customer gets a lagniappe when I know it will be appreciated.

 

[van185]

No it does not. Engines always take me a long time. I some times will do a quick wipe down if the vehicle is not in bad shape, but not a full engine detail.

 

[Belo]

anybody who has rat poop in their engine bay has bigger problems then a detail will fix lol

 

[Coach Steve]

We include engine and engine bay. But then again, our base package includes paint correction and *full interior (*as required). The only thing up from there are add-on's of various ceramic coatings. So if someone balks at the price, we start line-striking items out of the estimate/quote to get the price down. Engine/Engine bay is usually the first to get stricken from the quote. From a marketing perspective, I think when potential customers see what is getting removed in order to meet the price point, they tend to have me add it back in.

I typically do engines first thing, before we start on the wheels. Engine MUST be cool. We've always followed Nick's article and never had any issues:
How To: Detail Your Engine Like a Professional
Then dressing (or optional DLUX) the engine is done towards the end of the detail, along with tail tips, tires, etc. Which typically consists of a D114 wipe-down and application of dressings/QD's or if the customer up-options for DLUX. But typically those get applied at the end of the detail.

However we always state on our estimate/quote "we reserve the right to NOT clean the engine or engine bay." We explain this up front during the VIF process in the event I see old, dry, cracking, exposed wires, or other concerns.

Here are a few examples: Wouldn't you as a customer love to pickup your car that you just paid someone else to detail, pop the hood and see this? And don't forget the engine cowl, wiper-arms, and inside the gas lid area!

Goodness is in the details!

Always gotta be a show-off, dontca Paul?!